Giles Reid

Year of Call: 2015

Since calling to the bar, Giles has been regularly instructed in his principal areas of interest. He has particular expertise in property litigation, commercial disputes, professional negligence, trusts, succession and insolvency matters. He is frequently instructed in the Commercial Court. Giles is a tutor at the University of Edinburgh for property, trusts and succession.

Giles has developed distinct expertise in the law of prescription and limitation, acquired as the research assistant for the second edition of Johnston, Prescription and Limitation. Giles has delivered training sessions in this area of law, and is regularly instructed to advise in matters where prescription is an issue.

Giles has experience of employment litigation. Giles is regularly instructed in the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts in disputes arising from employment, including the enforcement of restrictive covenants and the recovery of confidential information from former employees.

Prior to calling to the bar, Giles completed a traineeship with one of Scotland’s leading commercial law firms. There, he gained experience of a wide range of commercial litigation in both the Court of Session and Sheriff Court. He also worked in rural property, and gained experience of large-scale commercial transactions and compulsory purchase schemes.

Commercial dispute resolution

Instructed for purchaser in Commercial Court action arising from purchase of central Edinburgh property for £1.4m. Interim interdict obtained to prevent sale of property to third parties.

Acting for defender in Court of Session action for breach of high-value contract of sale by purchaser.

Acting for former director of a company in action brought by liquidator in relation to a director’s loan.

McKeen v AIG (Europe) Limited. Acted for successful defender in action by insured for payment of indemnity under contract of insurance.

Acting for financial institution in action against solicitor’s professional indemnity insurers under Third Party (Rights Against Insurers) legislation.

Acting for purchaser company in dispute concerning restrictive convenants contained in a Share Purchase Agreement.

Blemain Finance Limited v Strickland. Acting for pursuer in action to enforce standard security. Issues of prescription and of applicability of foreign law.

Acting for pursuer in nuisance action arising from disruption to field drains.

Acting for appellant in appeal to Inner House arising from award of expenses in a judicial factory.

Crossroads Dunfermline v Henderson. Acting for successful employer in action for interdict and delivery against former employee concerning unauthorised retention of confidential information and intellectual property and the posting of defamatory statements.

Acting for employer in action to enforce notice period against employee. Interim interdict obtained in Court of Session proceedings.

Traineeship, Brodies LLP (2012-14). Seats in commercial litigation, employment and agriculture and estates, including experience of: contractual, property and professional negligence disputes, employment disputes, enforcement of restrictive covenants, recovery of confidential information from employees, a full range of conveyancing and property transactions, including renewables, utilities and forestry and experience of compulsory purchase work. Following completion of his traineeship and prior to commencing devilling, Giles spent two months working in the property department, assisting with the property aspects of the sale of one of Britain’s largest farming businesses.

Other

Tutor, University of Edinburgh, property, trusts and succession (2011-present).

Member, Faculty of Advocates sub-committee on Scottish Law Commission’s project on prescription (2016-17).